DFS Alerts
This Forward is Too Cheap
This price tag for Kieff on DK and FDr quite frankly just did not go up enough. He absolutely crushed in Game 1, playing almost 38 minutes. If we see anywhere close to that level of minutes in Game 2, then we should be targeting this price tag in all formats. He is certainly viable on FD as well where you need to roster two power forwards, but he is not quite a lock for me there due to the lack of multi positional eligibility.
Cheap Center Option
Gortat got into some real early foul trouble in Game 1, picking up his second foul three minutes into the game and getting taken out. However, he still ended up playing 28 minutes. The Wizards will definitely need his size against the big Toronto frontcourt. The price tag on FD is extremely hard to get away from, and I think he is an okay play in both formats on DK/FDr. The price tags there make him better for cash games, but there is still some profit potential for tournaments if the minutes get extended even more.
Pay Up For Me
Dame played about as poorly as he can play in Game 1, which is great news for those of us playing tonight’s slate because we get a great price tag on him still. He played 42 minutes and, while he got up 23 shots, the usage rate was still only at 23.6%. I expect the usage to go up even more and for the shooting to normalize. At what should probably be at least another 40 minutes in a pace-up game against New Orleans, I love Dame in all formats tonight across the industry.
Playoffs Bring The Best Out of Me
During the regular season, it always came down to minutes for Rondo. Sometimes he’d be in the low 20’s, and other times he would be in the mid 30’s. Apparently the playoffs mean that Rondo gets unleashed, as he played 39 minutes in Game 1. The price tag barely budged on FD, which makes him a lock in all formats over there. It came up a little more on other sites, but he is still in play in both formats across the industry if the minutes are going to remain this elevated.
Rudy Gay starting over Kyle Anderson on Monday; Warriors starting Iguodala at PG alongside same group as Game 1
Gay becomes a stronger target in showdown formats as the Spurs really needed his offense in Game 1, but he ended up seeing basically a typical minutes allotment when all was said and done. He should receive a bump in playing time tonight and could approach (or pass) the 30 minute mark if he’s meshing with the first unit. He’ll still be playing second fiddle to LaMarcus Aldridge but should be the second option offensively. Iguodala maintains his fantasy value from Saturday – he may have played more had he not left the game a little before halftime with a knee issue.
As reported by: Anthony Slater Other tagged players: Andre Iguodala
Favorite Spend at Power Forward
If you want to play Ben Simmons tonight, I completely get it. However, I like taking the discount with Draymond Green. The savings allow you to spend up on some of the other positions. Green played 34 minutes in the opener and he sat out the last seven minutes of the game due to a blowout. He has 38-40 minute upside and has averaged 1.10 fantasy points per minute on the season. This is the time of year when I really expect big outings from Mr. Green.
Old Veteran with Upside
Dwyane Wade didn’t have a big role in Game 1, but that game was out of hand after the third quarter. Assuming tonight’s game is closer (only a 6.5-point spread), we could see around 25 minutes from Wade, who has averaged over a fantasy point per minute this season. He knows how to get things done in the playoffs and his price is more than reasonable across the industry.
Contrarian Route at Power Forward
Strangely enough, power forward is arguably the deepest position of this two-game slate. A lot of people are going to pay up for Draymond Green, Ben Simmons, and LaMarcus Aldridge. While they are all fine plays in their own right, I have my sights set on James Johnson. He was terrific over the last month of the regular season and has a great opportunity to bounce back in Game 2 of this series. If this game stays close, he could push for 30 minutes at a discounted price point.
Top Value of the Night
With just two games tonight, there’s not a ton to love for value. Rudy Gay played much better than almost anyone else on the Spurs team in Game 1, and he started the second half ahead of Kyle Anderson. Gay responded with a 15/6/2 line in 22 minutes, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get closer to 30 minutes tonight. He is one of the top values on the slate, and I like him a little better than similarly-priced Dwyane Wade.
Healthy and Thriving with Embiid Sidelined
We have seen big games all year from Saric when Embiid has been sidelined, and injuries were the only thing to slow him down at the end of the regular season. He looked solid in all aspects of his game in the series opener, scoring 20 points and playing big defense in the second half. Simmons will get all the attention (as he should), but Saric is a rock solid mid-range play for DFS purposes on a two game slate.
Searching For Minutes
When looking for value, I’m looking for someone who plays minutes, and has upside to win a tournament. Mills is one of those guys on this slate. He played 26 minutes in game one, and could have played more if the game stayed close. With Kawhi already ruled out, Mills should play 25-30 minutes in a close game tonight. He’s cheap enough that I’m willing to take a shot on him.
Chasing Upside on a Two Game Slate
There’s not much out there for NBA DFS action tonight, as we have a two game slate with some teams that we generally don’t love to target. I don’t like playing guys against the Spurs, but we have no choice here. Draymond Green will continue to make his presence felt on the interior in this series, and he is coming off a solid performance in the Warriors’ easy win in Game 1. His defense will be needed as well, so the minutes should be very secure. He’s a safe mid-range play with upside for GPP formats, too.
A Good Cheap SG On FanDuel
This isn’t 2006 D-Wade anymore, but the price certainly reflects that nowadays. At only $4,500 on FanDuel, he represents a great source of salary relief where we need to find two shooting guards. The minutes are never going to be huge, but there is always the chance that Spo extends them in the playoffs to rely on D-Wade’s experience. Even if the minutes remain in the low 20’s, his usage is high enough with that second unit to make him a great play at this price tag no matter what.
Iggy Iggy Iggy, Can't You See...
Iggy makes for another great salary relief target on DK. He drew the start in Game 1, and I am guessing we see the same thing for Game 2 unless otherwise noted. The minutes were held in check due to a brief trip to the locker and the blowout, but he is easily one of the cheap plays we have on the slate. He is an easy plug-and-play on DK, and the decision whether to deploy him on FD depends on whether or not you are want to jam in Durant at that big price tag alongside Rudy Gay.
Rudy! Rudy! Rudy!
Rudy Gay started the second half for Kyle Anderson in Game 1. Gay is much more of a threat on the offensive end than Anderson, which I am guessing led to the switch by Pop. However, by the time he was ready to come back in for his fourth quarter rotation, Pop had already thrown in the towel. On a two-game slate where we are scraping for value, Gay’s price tag really stands out on DK. And on FD where we need to play two small forwards, he is a fine option there too despite a more efficient price tag.